The Nigeria Police, on Thursday, announced the arrest of the alleged mastermind of the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna where some passengers were killed while scores were abducted in March 2022.

The mastermind was identified as Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known by the ominous moniker of Mandi.

Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who made this known in Kaduna on Thursday, also disclosed that the suspect had also participated in the abduction of students from Greenfield University in 2021.

Adejobi also added that 48 AK-47 rifles were seized during Mandi’s arrest and efforts were underway to identify his sponsor and supplier of weapons.

He said, “On 12th January 2024, police operatives attached to an anti-kidnapping unit of Kaduna State Criminal Investigation Department, based on credible information swooped in and arrested one Ibrahim Abdullahi aka MANDE at Abuja-Kaduna Road flyover by Rido Junction.

“The suspect confessed to being the leader of a kidnap syndicate terrorizing the Kaduna-Abuja highway, ranked among other criminals like Dogo Gide and Bello Turji.

“He had participated in various kidnapping incidents including the kidnapping incident at Green Field University and he partook in almost all the kidnappings along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.”

He added that operatives have successfully recovered 16 firearms of various types along with 226 ammunition of diverse calibres.

“Additionally, our operations have led to the retrieval of 28 stolen vehicles, over 200 harmful weapons, and 600 bags of fertilizers.

“A total of three million, three hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N3,350,000) only, previously paid as ransom to kidnappers, has been successfully recovered, while our swift and coordinated efforts have resulted in the safe rescue of 158 kidnapped victims, all of whom have been reunited with their families unharmed. These achievements include.”

The police spokesman further said that the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, remains steadfast in its resolve to uphold the rule of law, ensure the safety and security of all citizens as well as combat criminal activities in the country.

It will be recalled that some bloodthirsty terrorists had attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound AK9 train on March 28 and abducted some passengers.

The  terrorists had reportedly planted explosive devices along the rail track and when the train approached the point, the device exploded, causing the train to derail, leading to the death of eight passengers.

A day after the attack, another passenger who suffered from a gunshot wound died, making it nine, the total number of those killed in that attack.

From the manifest received by the Nigerian Railway Corporation, 398 passengers bought tickets but 362 were validated as having bought tickets.

There is palpable tension in and around the Ile Ipo market, in the Alimosho LGA of Lagos, following a fight that led to the torching of stalls and goods.

It was gathered that the crisis began on Wednesday night following a rift over a game of lotto.

On Thursday, it was learnt that a trader who is from the northern region of the country, played the popular game and won a certain amount of money.

However, when the trader walked to the lotto vendor to claim his money, there was a disagreement over the exact amount won.

The altercation between the trader and the lotto vendor was said to have snowballed into an ethnic squabble and a free-for-all fight which was seized by hoodlums.

Fire was set to a section of the market amid the faceoff, leaving traders and customers scampering for safety. Thereafter, shops were looted and burnt as tempers flared.

The fight continued on Thursday morning before police officers were mobilised to the scene.

Some persons were said to have sustained injuries during the clash.

At the moment, all the shops in the market have been shuttered, with police officers patrolling the vicinity and the neighbourhood to maintain law and order.

The teenage boy killed in the Hainault sword attack in north-east London has been identified as 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin.

Police were called to reports of a car crashing into a house and people being stabbed in Hainault, north-east London.

“As she fled, the woman shouted to another neighbour, a boy on his way to school, who was then struck by the attacker as he turned around,” he said.